Railway signal-fusee.



I'. DUTCHER.

RAILWAY SIGNAL PUSEB.

APPLICATION FILED PEBJ. 1911.

Patented July 25,1911.

.ll/(A III/11111111.

`FRANK DUTCHER, OF VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY SIGNAL-F USEE.

seance;

Application led February 1, 1911.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15H1. Serial No. 605.951.

To all whom 'it may concern:

lie it known that I, FRANK DUTCIIER, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of Allegheny and State ot' Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway big- 11al-l1`11sees, of which the followingisa specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signal tusee's.

(.)ne object of my presentinvent-ion is to provide a transverse lighting member extending under the fusee. tube closure in combination with the chlorate light-ing stratum outside of the closure for the purpose of couveying the lire transversely in opposite directions across and to the signal compound within the. usee tube.

Another object of my present invention is to so construct the transversely arranged lighting member that it serves the function of a separating medium between the chlorate lighting stratum and the Sulfur fusee compound within the tube.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure l is a sectional view of a railway signal fusee with my improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a section of the lighting end of the usee showing my improved lighting member lcombined with a signal tube having a crimped closed end. Fig. 4'is a sectional view of a fasce tube, showing my improved closure combined with Vthe transverse lighting member. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a usee tube with my improved closure 'and transverse lighting member, the tube shown in the in verted position when being packed with the signal compound.

Referring now to my improved closure for the signal usee and referring particularly to Figs. l, 2, 4, 5 and 6, l is the usual paper `or liber tube or receiving the signal compound 2. My improved closure consists of a cup-shaped member 3, which is placed withinthe end of the tube I, with its transverse wall 4 Hush with the endo'f thetube. The side wall of the closure 3, is cemented to the wall of the tube 1. This closure 3, which telescopes vthe end of the tube 1, has its transverse wall provided with an openving 5. The usual form of chlorate light stratumt, is applied tothe outer side of the closure 3 and extends through the opening 5 to convey its tire when lighted to the signal compound 2 for lighting it. This closure may be used with or without the transverse lighting member 7, though the transverse lighting member is here shown in connection with it. Q

In Fig. 6 is shown the fusce in the ,inverted position and in the act of having the Signal compound 2 parked. therein by aiiy suitable form of plunger or packer 8. As is well known to those skilled in this art, the signal compound is tightly packed within the tube l. 'hen the tube is being packed, it rests upon 'a suitable support or table 9, which closes the opening 5 in the closure 3. 'ith the closure as here shown, its transverse wall 4 and the end of the tube 1, are flush and rest upon the table or support- 9, and in this position the fusee can be packed tightly without injury to cith'er the end of the tube or to the closure 3; rlhis closure 3 consists of a paper or fiber cup-shaped member, the transverse wall of which would not stand the packing pressure unless supported during packing operation. This form of closure is a cheap and etl'ective one. It effectually closes the end of the tube and adds additional strength to the lighting end thereof, so that it is not liable to burst out 0r explosion due to the sudden burning of the compound when it is lighted. Therefore, it performs the double function of a closure and a strengthening member for the lighting end of the fusee.

A transverseI lighting member 7 is located under the tube closure, extends across the opening 5 in the closure, and as shown has its ends extending under the closure which locks the lighting member in the fusee tube, and prevents thevlighting member from being blown out by the sudden burning caused when the fusee is lighted.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the transverse lighting member 7 is wider than the opening 5 in the closure of the tube so that the ehlorate lighting stratum 6 is separated from-the signal compound 2 thereby. In Figs.Y 4, 5 and 6, I show a narrow transverse lighting mem ber 7', which does not close the opening 5 of the closure 3, and therefore does not servev loo tions to and across the signal compound at the lighting end of the fusee.

In signal fusees there is a tendency to blow out the lighting stratum orhead when it is lighted3 and vvarious means havebeen provided to avoid this action. By means of the construction the lighting head cements itself to the transverse lighting member 7,- and this lightingme'mber serves to hold the' lighting -stratum or head in position, and it conveys the fire from the lighting stratum entirely across the compound instead of merelyl in the center thereof, as heretofore.

When a perchlorate signal composition, such as that described and disclosedin the patent to Isadore Niditch, No. 954,330, April 5th, 1910, is used, some means is necessary to linsure the lighting of this compound, be-

` cause it is more difficult to light than the old signal compound, and usually tov effect this a longitudinally lighting core is eX- tended into the signal compound. `My transverse lighting member is of particular advantage and utility in connection with a perchlorate signal compound in vthat it con- Veys the fire to and across the entire end of the packed compound.` By making this transverse member as Wide or wider than the I lighting member in connection with a signal .tube which has the well -known crimped closure 10, and both the Wide and narrow l forms of the transverse lighting member here shown, are adapted to be used in conclosure. Y g Y y y YThe transverselighting member may consist of any suitable Acombustible substance,

but as here shown, it consists of Wood impregnated with a suitable combustible compound, such as saltpeter and lead nitrate.

Having thus described my invention, What Il claim and desire-.to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An improved railway signalfusee, comprising a fiber tube containing a signal compound, a closure'for the lighting end of the tube, the closure vhaving an opening,-a combustible lighting member extending across the end of the signal compound and across said opening and its `ends under the closure to lock it in the tube,-.and a lighting stratum outside of the closure and extending through the opening to said lighting member, substantially as'shoWn.

2. An improved railway signal fusee, comprising a fiber tube containing a signal compound, a closurev for thevlighting end vof the tube, the closure having lan opening communicating with the tube, a combustible lighting nember ,extending across theA endof the signal compound and across said opening and its ends under the closure to lock it in thetube, the lighting member being substantially'as Wideas said opening to close it v for the ,purpose described, and a lighting stratum outside of the closure and extending through the Aopening to the lighting member, substantially as shown. In'testimonywhereof I hereunto aiX my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK DUTCHER. Witnesses:

SIMON F. LOEB,

GERTRUDE D AvmsoN.

vnectiony with a signalfuseehaving acrimped cev 

